Shetland Sheepdog
Learn about the temperament and personality of the Shetland Sheepdog. Discover what he's like to live with, his traits and characteristics and how he generally behaves. And look at lots of Shetland Sheepdog photos.
| Shetland Sheepdog: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Training |  | Explain rating |
| Intelligence | | Explain rating |
| Shedding | | Explain rating |
| Watchdog |  | Explain rating |
| Guard Dog |  | Explain rating |
| Popularity |  | Explain rating |
| Size |  | Explain rating |
| Agility |  | Explain rating |
| Good with Kids | | Explain rating |
Shetland Sheepdog Temperament
The Shetland Sheepdog, affectionately called the "Sheltie," is one of the most trainable and loving breeds there is. They are incredibly intelligent and in tune to their owners thoughts and moods. They can be almost psychic when it comes to knowing what you are feeling. If you want to play, your Sheltie is ready to play. If you are sad, your Sheltie will show concern with a worried look and a few kisses. If you are not in the mood, your Sheltie will give you your space. They are sensitive and responsive to training, and sometimes respond to commands before they are given. They are one of the top breeds in the obedience ring, but they also excel in agility, herding, and flyball. They need a moderate amount of exercise every day, and they are happiest when they get this exercise outdoors. They are a working dog and they need a job to do. They need something to occupy their minds. If you don't give them something, they will think of something on their own, which is usually not a good thing. They are also devoted companions and family dogs and are especially fond of children. They will want to be involved in everything you do and go everywhere you go. They will follow you from room to room, including the restroom. They are also protective, especially of "their" children, and will bark a warning whenever someone nears your door. They are sound sensitive and bark at all strange sounds, even the ones you never hear. Barking can be a problem with Shelties, as they seem to have a lot to say. They are very expressive and talk to you with whines, groans, grunts and a thousand different barks. (They can also smile.) Not only will they bark at you, they may also try to herd you. But it's not personal. They will also try to herd children, bicycles, joggers, cars, ducks, and sometimes airplanes. They are usually naturally distrustful of strangers and should be socialized early in life. They are safest in a home with a fenced-in yard. They are peaceful other dogs and animals. A Sheltie needs to be a part of the family. They are an intensely loyal dog and will not do well if left alone. They love their families and crave human interaction. Owning a Sheltie is a 24-7 endeavor. They love attention. They love to learn. They love to please you. They also love to bark and to steal food from your children.
Shetland Sheepdog Training
The Shetland Sheepdog is the most intelligent and easiest to train of all dog breeds! He learns new commands quicker than any other breed, which makes him very easy to train.
Shetland Sheepdog Shedding
The Shetland Sheepdog is a very heavy shedder. He sheds an awful lot of hair! You'll find hair all over your home, stuck to everything! You'll probably even find it in the butter!
Shetland Sheepdog Grooming
The medium-length coat of the Shetland Sheepdog only requires an occasional brushing. But because he sheds excessively you may find yourself brushing him daily to remove loose hair. (What you get out with a brush doesn't fall out in your home!)
Adopt a Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdog Photos
Rating: Ease of training
Tells you how easy or difficult a breed is to train.
A higher rating means the breed is easier to train, a lower rating means the breed is harder to train.
An easy to train breed require less time and patience to train.
Rating: Intelligence
Tells you how intelligent a breed is in terms of how quickly it can learn commands from humans. A higher rating means the breed will learn your commands faster (and is therefore generally considered to be more intelligent), while a lower rating means the breed will learn your commands more slowly (and is therefore generally considered to be less intelligent).
Keep in mind that this is only one way to measure a dog's intelligence and a low rating might still mean the breed is highly intelligent in other ways.
Rating: Shedding
Tells you how much hair the breed sheds. The higher the rating the more hair the breed sheds.
Rating: Watchdog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a watchdog and raising the alarm when a stranger approaches. A higher rating means the breed will bark vigorously to warn you of a stranger's presence on your property. A low rating means the breed probably won't bark much if a stranger enters your property.
Rating: Guard dog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a guard dog due to the appearance, size, and strength of the breed. A breed with a high guard dog rating will make an intruder think twice before stepping foot on your property.
Rating: Popularity
Tells you how popular the breed is in terms of ownership. A higher rating means that more people own the breed. The more popular a breed is the easier it is to find and purchase one because there are more breeders breeding it.
Rating: Size
Tells you how large or small the breed is. A lower rating means the breed is smaller and a higher rating means the breed is larger. It gives you a quick idea of how physically large or small the breed is compared with all the other breeds.
Rating: Agility
Tells you how agile the breed is. A higher rating means the breed is fast and nimble on its feet while a lower rating means the breed is heavier and slower on its feet.
Rating: Good with kids
Tells you how good the breed is with children. A higher rating means the breed is good with children. Note: all breeds are generally good with kids when they're raised with them.
